In the final month of the year, we sit down with sis Ellen to get to know her better.. Ellen was originally from the Naga City Church of Christ in the Philippines. When she came to Singapore to work, she placed her membership here in 2017. Read on to find out more about her journey!
Michelle:
Tell me more about yourself. It can be about your work, your hobbies etc. Anything that you would like people to know about you!
Ellen:
My name is Ellen and I work as a childcare teacher. Outside of work, I like to cycle, jump rope and do yoga.
Michelle:
These are quite diverse forms of exercise. How did you come to doing all of these?
Ellen:
I started during Covid! I do run but I explored different forms of exercise. I started with jump rope and eventually started to go to the gym.
Michelle:
Switching topics a little, tell me more about your work as a childcare teacher! Do you like what you are doing?
Ellen:
I enjoy my work as a childcare teacher as I enjoy teaching. I find teaching children very meaningful.
Michelle:
I have heard that many teachers find that teaching is stressful, Do you feel the same way?
Ellen:
I don’t find teaching children stressful. The stress comes from parents and the paperwork I need to do.
Michelle:
What you have said echoes what I have heard from the early childhood sector clients that I work with! They pointed out that it is the paperwork that is the cause of their heavy workload. Is it the same for you?
Ellen:
Yes! The paperwork does keep me busy…
Michelle:
Since you enjoy working with children, are you involved with teaching the children’s class in church?
Ellen:
Yes! I teach the nursery class on Sundays.
Michelle:
What about lower and upper primary?
Ellen:
I have yet to teach the lower and upper primary classes. I am not sure of that and will have to explore as I prefer to work with younger children.
Michelle:
How did your love for working with children come about?
Ellen:
Back in the Philippines, we had something similar to a Vacation Bible School (VBS) which takes place in the summer (May of each year). We would go to the rural areas to help the kids there and to teach them about Jesus. The kids were very receptive as this was an opportunity where people come to teach them. I find the work very fulfilling. In fact, some of the children went on to attend church after they have grown up.
Michelle:
How old are these children?
Ellen:
The VBS is catered to 5 to 12 year olds.
Michelle: Which congregation were you from in the Philippines and where did this VBS take place?
Ellen:
I was from the Naga City Church of Christ where my dad was a full-time preacher there. For the VBS, we would go to Guinayangan, in the province of Quezon.
Michelle:
Wow! I see that your experience with working with children goes a long way back given your experiences serving in the church and in your job! You mentioned that your father is a full-time preacher in the Philippines. How was it like growing up? Were there any challenges?
Ellen:
There were some challenges growing up. The first would be financial challenges. The members were generally not well to do, At times, we would need to step in to help some members financially. At times, members would have to miss church in order to work and support their families.
The second would be travelling. My family would go to many other places where my father would preach. At times, this could be tiring.
Third, the expectations of the church. As the children of a preacher, there is an expectation that you would always do right and that you would never fail. Those are not easy expectations to live up to.
Despite all of these, I had a very fulfilling experience growing up.
Michelle:
Thank you for sharing so candidly about the challenges, Ellen! When did you get baptised?
Ellen:
I got baptised when I was 12.
Michelle:
What prompted you to get baptised, especially at such a tender age?
Ellen:
I went for a series of Bible studies and learnt more about the Bible. My main reason at that point was the fear of going to Hell. I realised that I needed to be baptised if I didn’t want to go to Hell.
Over the years, I realised that it is not just about that. Being a Christian is also about living faithfully, which is not easy but is essential. I learnt more and deepened my faith by studying the Bible. I also attended a Bible school when I was a teenager. Those experiences helped to deepen my understanding of the doctrines.
Baptism is really just the first step in my Christian journey.
Michelle:
Last question, what is your favourite Bible verse?
Ellen (with no hesitation):
Philippians 4:13 - “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”